A true Christian

[Tonus]

I've been wondering bout this a lot recently- what I just believe on faith. It's a tricky thing to try to acknowledge because, as you say, it's easy to shrug off counter-arguments. I'm trying, though. Perhaps it's easier for people like you who have already seen through a religious lens?

Well, having had the experience makes it easier to understand your question. While I cringe at some of the things I believed and the arguments I made, I didn't feel any different than I do now. I just believed differently. It's similar to how our political views may change with time and experience.

How much of this was faith, and how much could you justify as belief based on reasonable evidence? Could you see the difference then as it applied to your religious belief?

No, I couldn't. This is in part because I was raised a Jehovah's Witness, and they are particularly strict about where you get your information from. If you control what the flock knows, they'll believe just about anything. Ignorance bolstered by unjustified confidence is like a very thick logic-proof vest. As far as I was concerned, everyone else just didn't get it, but we did, because we had THE TRUTH.

Are you happier now? Do you ever miss it?

I was always a happy person, and leaving god behind did not change that. I feel more free and more in control of my life. When you learn that there is no puppet master, you no longer act as if you're a puppet.

Do you think this is normal for deconverts?

From what I've read and heard from others, it can often be a very heartbreaking experience. Having the religious safety net pulled away suddenly can leave a person terrified. Our subconscious mind does not automatically discard old beliefs when we change our views. They remain embedded there like mental land mines, just waiting for us to get too close.